Chapter 97: Extra · My Path Is Not a Lonely One
Fang Zan's birth was something of an accident. After Fang Jian became a Provincial Graduate, her parents' lives improved. With money in their hands and the heavy pressure of a precarious existence lifted, their spirits were naturally high. The old couple experienced a second spring, and a moment of carelessness resulted in Fang Zan. As the youngest daughter, with an older sister serving as an official in the court, her parents naturally didn't have high expectations for her. They let her grow up wild, free, and full of life.
In the twenty-sixth year of the Yongxing era, Fang Zan was twelve. That year, her parents decided to send her to live with Fang Jian. Fang Zan was naturally unwilling. She had only met Fang Jian a few times and was somewhat afraid of her. Her parents then wept, "Your poor sister is unlikely to have children, and you are her only sibling. If you are not close to her, what will she do when she is old?"
Although Fang Zan was a bit mischievous, she had a good heart. Hearing this, she felt her sister was lonely and pitiful, so she agreed. Only upon arriving in the Capital City did she realize it was all nonsense. Her sister was living better than anyone could imagine.
As Fang Jian held her down for a spanking, she wailed and thought to herself, I've truly been duped. My sister is no poor little thing. I, Fang Zan, am the poor little thing here.
"What are you crying so loudly for? I haven't even used any force!" Fang Jian was covered in sweat from trying to catch her, and her crying gave her a throbbing headache. The moment her grip loosened, Fang Zan slipped away and leaped out of reach in a few steps. Fang Jian was furious. With nothing else at hand, she raised the bamboo cane she was holding and threw it at her. Fang Zan had already vanished. The cane didn't travel far before falling pitifully to the ground. Fang Jian pointed in the direction she had fled and cursed, "If you have the guts, don't come back for dinner!"
Someone behind her was laughing. Fang Jian turned to look at the newcomer, her voice filled with endless grievance as she called out, "Lord…"
Gao Yunqu leaned against the doorframe, enjoying the show. "This sister of yours… she's no good at her studies, no good at martial arts, but she certainly runs fast enough."
"Mother said that A'zan is older now and asked me to teach her properly. How was I to know she was such a mischievous monkey? If I had known, I would never have agreed." Fang Jian had a headache as well. Her parents had written to her, asking if Fang Zan could be educated under her guidance. Thinking they were sisters of the same mother and that she, as the elder, should fulfill her duty, she had agreed. Only after the girl arrived did she realize she was a devil incarnate. She couldn't absorb a single word from her books and spent her days climbing roofs, pulling down tiles, and catching fish in the river. Every few days, Fang Jian had to go to the academy and apologize to the teacher. A dignified fourth-rank official, a former Triple First, was being scolded by a teacher until she couldn't lift her head. Fang Jian had never experienced anything like it in her life. She had tried scolding and spanking, but nothing worked. Then again, these weren't major faults, just the mischief of a child. The girl was as slippery as an eel, and Fang Jian was at her wit's end. Sometimes, when she was being thoughtful, Fang Jian felt she was a good child after all. Fang Jian felt deeply conflicted; no wonder her parents had insisted on sending her away. She sighed, feeling as if she had aged considerably.
Gao Yunqu was amused by her. "Do you want me to teach her for you? I'll be free soon."
Hearing this, Fang Jian's expression turned serious. "Has Lord decided to resign from your post?"
Gao Yunqu pulled a memorial from her sleeve and waved it in front of her. "I've already drafted the document."
Fang Jian frowned. "Lord, I still think this is rash. You have such a bright future ahead of you. Why must you forsake the first-rank golden belt that is nearly within your grasp for my sake?"
Gao Yunqu's prediction of seven to ten years had been remarkably accurate. She had served as the Minister of Personnel for seven years, cleansing the court from top to bottom and completing their planned objectives ahead of schedule. Wei Qi held Gao Yunqu in extremely high regard and was never stingy with rewards. She was just waiting for a vacancy in the Council of State to promote her further.
Gao Yunqu stood up straight and said to Fang Jian solemnly, "A'jian, I've told you before, it's not for you. This is something I decided long ago."
"Is my future not a factor in your considerations?" Fang Jian was not foolish. Regardless of what Gao Yunqu had considered before, at this moment, if she were to resign, the greatest beneficiary would undoubtedly be Fang Jian. Not only was she clearing a path for Fang Jian, but she was also leaving her everything she had accumulated over decades of service.
Gao Yunqu smiled. "A'jian, why must we draw such a clear line between us? It would be better to say that it is precisely because of you that I can do this. With you to take my place, I have no fear that my past efforts will be wasted. No one understands what I want better than you."
"Lord…"
"Alright, you can't stop me from doing what I want to do. Be good." Gao Yunqu tapped Fang Jian's shoulder with the memorial, telling her to cheer up.
This was not the first time they had discussed this topic. Fang Jian had never been able to win an argument against her. She sighed, "Her Majesty is going to be angry."
"That's Her Majesty's business." Gao Yunqu spread her hands in a roguish gesture. Fang Jian was helpless against her and could only drop the subject.
The next day, Gao Yunqu entered Yong'an Palace with her memorial.
Wei Qi was very happy to see her. With the court running smoothly, she had more leisure time. Seeing her arrive, she invited her to play a game of Go.
They had not played against each other for a long time. Wei Qi toyed with a game piece and remarked with emotion, "I still remember when we were young, sitting opposite each other right here, you advising me to be more patient… In the blink of an eye, so many years have passed."
Hearing this, Gao Yunqu was also filled with emotion. The days of their youth were like shimmering lights in a stream. The past hardships and difficulties had been washed away like silt and mud, and when cupped in one's hands, only specks of brilliant and gentle light remained.
"Minister Gao, look at the realm today. Would you say it has achieved peace and prosperity, a golden age?" The sunlight that day was warm, streaming in through the window and falling upon Wei Qi. She wore a smile, bathed in the light, looking not like the imposing and solemn emperor on the high throne, but more like the forbearing, ambitious youth she once was.
Gao Yunqu said humbly, "Your Majesty, though we are not there yet, we are not far."
"You," Wei Qi laughed. "Anyone else would be falling over themselves with flattery."
"Your Majesty, on a journey of a hundred li, ninety is but half the way. The final stretch is always the hardest." Gao Yunqu lowered her gaze, her words still respectful. After speaking, she placed a stone on the board, and with that single move, the state of the game was instantly reversed.
Wei Qi was astonished. She examined the board again and again, but the situation was beyond saving. Finally, she sighed, "You are Minister Gao, after all. I am no match for you."
Gao Yunqu stood up and bowed to Wei Qi. "Your Majesty is occupied with countless state affairs. This is but a trivial pastime, a mere diversion. I simply took a shortcut."
Wei Qi didn't mind. She was used to speaking casually with Gao Yunqu. She waved her hand, stood up, and took a couple of steps. "It's fine, I can afford to lose. Speaking of which, what brings you here today?"
Gao Yunqu took a step back, solemnly lifted the hem of her robes, and knelt on the floor.
Wei Qi froze, her smile fading slightly. She had always treated her ministers with favor, and an old official like Gao Yunqu was shown particular honor and affection. Such a formal ceremony was rare in private. She had a feeling that what Gao Yunqu was about to say would not please her.
Sure enough, Gao Yunqu took out the memorial, held it up with both hands, and announced in a clear voice, "Your Majesty, I request to resign from my post."
Suppressing her anger, Wei Qi snatched the memorial from her. After a cursory glance, she couldn't help but sneer. "Illness? Unfit for service? Gao Yunqu, you are only forty-five! Chancellor Meng is getting old and will be seeking official retirement in a few years. I am saving the position of Right Chancellor for you! What is this nonsense you're spouting?"
She threw the memorial to the ground, her eyes practically spitting fire. She pointed at Gao Yunqu and said, "I'm not interested in your official platitudes. Come, you tell me why! Have I treated you unfairly?"
"Your Majesty's immense grace is something I dare not forget for a single moment. I know I have failed Your Majesty and do not dare ask for forgiveness, only that Your Majesty hear me out." Gao Yunqu bowed and kowtowed. When she rose again, her gaze was still firm. Wei Qi held back her anger and gestured with her chin for her to speak. Gao Yunqu began, "Your Majesty, I have been observing the law of avoidance for ten years…"
Wei Qi interrupted, "And haven't you been doing it very well?"
Gao Yunqu cut straight to the point. "Your Majesty, you are aware of my relationship with Linshen. Linshen has been at the fourth rank for five years now…"
Wei Qi felt a wave of relief. She beckoned to A'zheng, who was waiting at the side. From the moment Wei Qi had gotten angry, all the palace attendants in the hall had quietly withdrawn, leaving only A'zheng. Seeing her signal, A'zheng promptly handed her a cup of tea. Wei Qi took a sip to compose herself. "So it's about this? Minister Fang is also excellent. I previously suggested promoting her, but you rejected it every time. If you ask me, your relationship doesn't fall under the official rules—blood relatives, sisters, spouses—which of these categories do you truly fit into? Why impose such limits? Given both of your merits, making an exception wouldn't be out of the question."
Gao Yunqu's expression became stern, and she admonished with utmost gravity, "Your Majesty! The rule that relatives serving in the same court must avoid conflicts of interest exists to prevent the misuse of public office for private gain and to stop the court from being dominated by a single family's voice. It is a law for all time. How can it be broken so lightly? If an exception is made for me today, another can be made for someone else tomorrow. If this continues, how can the law survive? A dike collapses from an anthole; a balloon deflates from a pinprick. How can I be the one to breach the dike and let out the air? Your Majesty should also be cautious and vigilant!"
It had been a long time since Wei Qi had been admonished so directly. She was momentarily stunned. After a moment of reflection, she broke out in a cold sweat. These years of success and flattery had, without her realizing, made her arrogant. She was abruptly jolted back to her senses. Swallowing a mix of emotions, she said, "I was being reckless. Minister Gao speaks the truth."
Gao Yunqu remained kneeling, her hands clasped in a salute, her eyes bright. She continued, "Furthermore, Your Majesty is aware of the matter between Linshen and myself. Although we do not have the title of a married couple, I believe we have the substance of one, and thus we should be subject to the avoidance rule. I must abide by the order I myself have established. If we say it doesn't count without a piece of paper, we might deceive the world, but can we deceive ourselves?"
Wei Qi was silent for a moment, then said, "Even so, according to custom, it should be the junior who avoids the senior. Fang Jian is lower in rank and younger. What sense does it make for you to yield to her?"
"That is the other matter I wished to discuss. With the administration cleansed and the tax laws established, Your Majesty's next step is to conduct a Cadastral Survey and revise the registers, is it not?"
Wei Qi nodded. "I had intended for you to lead it."
"Your Majesty, there is a better candidate for this task," Gao Yunqu said frankly.
Wei Qi was taken aback. "You choose Fang Jian? Gao Yunqu, do you love her to this extent? To pave the way for her like this?"
"Your Majesty, to be precise, the Cadastral Survey is better handled by someone from a humble background." Gao Yunqu was not the least bit annoyed and continued, "In this court, any official whose family has served for three generations or more, who among them does not have a clan and dependents behind them? This task is thankless and difficult for them. The moment Your Majesty reveals the slightest intention, the various factions that were previously fighting amongst themselves, regardless of their origins, will unite in opposition. This strikes at the very foundation of the gentry class of the realm."
Wei Qi sighed, knowing she spoke the truth. She could make an example of a powerful family, but she could not eliminate the entire gentry class. On the surface, her Great Zhou was calm and clear, but beneath the water, the roots were still tangled and complex. Lighter taxes and corvée to enrich the people should have been the way of benevolence and kingship, but what was the reality? The wealth enriched neither the state nor the people. The state ran a deficit year after year, while the poor had no land to stand on yet bore the heavy burden of taxes. Only the gentry in the middle feasted on their flesh and blood. She was the emperor, yet she had to compromise with these people. How could she be content with that? But if the entire court was a chorus of opposition, could she truly push this reform through?
"Your Majesty, the world bustles for profit. The reform offers no benefit to the gentry, so naturally they will oppose it. As for the scholars from humble backgrounds, they have nothing, so they have nothing to fear from reform. Some even hope to use the reform to advance their careers and pull down the high and mighty lords from their pedestals. They are the sharpest blade Your Majesty has at your disposal right now. The only weakness of the humble-born is that they are too young and their words carry little weight. And Fang Jian is precisely one of the highest-ranking officials from a humble background in the court. The humble-born officials who have entered the court in recent years also subtly look to her as their leader. It is all benefit and no harm. Why would Your Majesty not use her?" With no one else in the hall, Gao Yunqu spoke very directly to Wei Qi, planning entirely on her behalf.
Wei Qi found it strange. Just a moment ago, Gao Yunqu seemed so concerned for Fang Jian, yet now she was pushing her into this. She voiced her thought: "Reform may bring benefits, but it is also fraught with risk. Are you not afraid that Fang Jian will be broken?"
Gao Yunqu smiled. "She has me. She will be in the open, and I will be in the shadows. With us working together, isn't that the most secure plan for Your Majesty?"
Wei Qi fell silent again. She found herself being swayed by Gao Yunqu, but she was still reluctant to let her go.
Gao Yunqu took a breath and continued, "Your Majesty, my claim of illness is not entirely false. My time trapped in Chuzhou did some damage to my constitution, and my health is not what it used to be. The imperial physicians have seen me and said I must recuperate. I have planned the administrative reforms for years and know them inside and out, but I am unprepared for the Cadastral Survey. If I were to lead it, the mental and physical toll would be immense, something I truly cannot estimate. My life is of little consequence, but I fear I may not be able to achieve Your Majesty's wish. I dare not undertake a task I am not confident in.
"Your Majesty, Linshen will be better suited for Your Majesty's future court."
Wei Qi rubbed her temples. "Let me think on this. You may go home for today."
Gao Yunqu kowtowed in thanks and withdrew.
Wei Qi watched her retreating figure, feeling a splitting headache. A'zheng dutifully came over, led her to a seat, and stood behind her to gently massage her head, easing her fatigue.
Wei Qi said, "It seems Minister Gao is determined to leave. She has even planned out the future for me."
"What are Your Majesty's thoughts?" A'zheng replied.
"She's only forty-five! Others wouldn't leave until they were seventy or eighty! Only she, at such a young age, is already thinking of planting beans by the southern mountain!" Wei Qi was still angry just thinking about it. She and Gao Yunqu were not far apart in age. Gao Yunqu could go off to enjoy nature and live freely, leaving her alone to toil and worry. How could she not be angry?
This gloom lasted until evening, when Wei Xi came to pay her respects. She was already fifteen and had been invested as the Crown Princess last year. Wei Qi was busy with state affairs, and Wei Xi had her own lessons every day, so it was only in the evening that mother and daughter had the leisure to sit and talk. Wei Qi had no other business that day, so she had her stay for dinner. Seeing her mother sighing repeatedly, Wei Xi tentatively asked what was wrong. She was at an age where she was beginning to learn about court affairs, and Wei Qi did not treat her like a child, explaining everything to her in detail.
After listening, Wei Xi thought seriously for a moment and said to Wei Qi, "Mother, Lord Gao's concern is simply that the law of avoidance is preventing Lord Fang from advancing and taking charge of the reform. I was thinking, the law of avoidance only states that they cannot serve as department heads of the fourth rank or higher at the same time. Are there no prestigious positions outside the Six Ministries and Nine Courts for Lord Gao? As long as she is not the head of a department, it should be fine. Don't let her resign just yet."
Wei Qi's eyes lit up. Looking at Wei Xi, her worried expression vanished, replaced by a warm smile. "You're right. How did I forget?"
In the autumn of the twenty-sixth year of the Yongxing era, Minister of Personnel Gao Yunqu submitted her resignation. Wei Qi did not approve it, but out of consideration for Gao Yunqu's frail health, she ordered her to be transferred to the position of Grand Tutor, to serve as a teacher to the Crown Princess. In the same month, Fang Jian was promoted to Censor-in-Chief, a position of the senior third rank.
Gao Yunqu hadn't expected that Wei Qi could actually come up with a solution that satisfied both sides. The Three Tutors of the Eastern Palace and the officials of the Supervisorate of the Household were often concurrent posts held by high-ranking court ministers. By removing her primary court title, it truly did bypass the law of avoidance. Wei Qi had given her more than enough face, personally bringing Wei Xi to perform the ceremony of becoming a student and serving tea. To refuse again would be ungracious. Gao Yunqu had no choice but to settle into her role as the Crown Princess's tutor. Wei Xi was intelligent and diligent, and Gao Yunqu liked her, so she taught her with great care. But how much time could teaching take up? She had her wish and was finally at leisure. She spent her free time seeking her own pleasures, and was quite content.
One day, as she was about to go out, she happened to run into Fang Zan. Fang Zan greeted her from a distance. She glanced at her and called out, "Come here."
"Lord Gao." Fang Zan was a little afraid of Gao Yunqu and obediently approached. It was interesting; Fang Jian disciplined her every few days, yet she wasn't afraid of Fang Jian. Gao Yunqu always wore a smile, but she knew to be afraid of her.
"Not at the academy today?" Gao Yunqu asked.
Caught skipping school, Fang Zan stammered and didn't dare to run away.
"Never mind," Gao Yunqu said, looking at the sun. "I'm going to the countryside for a ride. Are you coming?"
"Huh?" Fang Zan was stunned, looking at her, unsure if she should go.
"You don't know how to ride a horse?"
"I do!"
Fang Zan was young, after all. Since Gao Yunqu was willing to take her out to have fun, she wholeheartedly felt that Gao Yunqu was a good person. After a few outings, she became familiar with her.
Gao Yunqu then asked her, "Why are you unwilling to study properly?"
Fang Zan scratched her head, saying sheepishly, "Lord, it's not that I'm unwilling, it's that I can't absorb it. I truly don't understand a single word." Her face was scrunched up in a frown. "But everyone says I have a sister like that, so how can I not be like her? The more they say it, the less I can learn. The words in the books look like jumbles. I can't even see them clearly, so how can I learn? Lord, could you talk to my sister and ask her not to send me to the academy anymore?"
Gao Yunqu looked at her, lost in thought. After a long while, she said, "I'll try, but my word isn't final. It depends on what your sister thinks."
Fang Zan's face lit up. "My sister will listen to whatever you say."
"Oh?" Gao Yunqu was a little surprised. Fang Zan had been here for over two months. She hadn't asked or said anything, but her eyes saw clearly.
Having shared the troubles she dared not tell anyone else, Fang Zan now considered Gao Yunqu one of her own. Feeling close to her, she winked and asked, "What is the relationship between you and my sister?"
"What do you think?" Gao Yunqu asked back, her expression unreadable.
Fang Zan's face scrunched up again, her struggle to find the right words written all over her face. "I can't say. You two seem more like sisters than I am to her, but sometimes you feel like my parents…"
Gao Yunqu's voice was faint, but her face held a warm, gentle smile. "We have promised to spend the rest of our lives together."
"Ah, isn't that like a married couple? Can two women get married?" Fang Zan tilted her head, her question devoid of any other meaning, born of pure, genuine confusion.
"A married couple, or rather, marriage, is a contract that aligns the interests of both parties. But beyond that, there is a bond. The emotional bond between two people is complex. If marriage is based on interest, then emotion is based on love." Gao Yunqu spoke earnestly, regardless of whether Fang Zan could understand. "According to social convention, your sister and I cannot form such a contract. But according to our feelings, we love each other."
Fang Zan was a little bewildered. She thought seriously for a moment, then asked, "Then in the future, can I also spend my life with a woman?"
Gao Yunqu said, "You don't need to make such assumptions for yourself. When you grow up, you will know where your affections lie. As for whether that person is a man or a woman, whether you follow convention and interest, or choose to be true to your feelings, you will know how to choose when the time comes. It is the same for all things in the world. The twelve-year-old you cannot decide what your twenty-two-year-old self will do. It's better to wait until you are twenty-two."
Fang Zan seemed to understand, but not completely. But those things were still too far away for her. She first had to find a way to make a living for herself.
Fang Jian tossed and turned, worrying about her. Gao Yunqu sighed, wrapped a long arm around her to still her, and asked what was wrong.
Fang Jian said, "A'zan is twelve. She's not accomplished in either literature or martial arts. What is she to do? My parents and I can't support her for her entire life. She has to be independent eventually, but what can she do to support herself?"
She was already incredibly busy with her official duties these days. When she returned home, she still had to worry about Fang Zan. Gao Yunqu thought for a moment and said, "You don't have to worry about it. I will teach her for you."
Gao Yunqu took Fang Zan out of the academy. She took her to see and try all three hundred and sixty trades. To Fang Zan, it was no different from playing. She listened to all the principles Gao Yunqu taught her and was incredibly well-behaved, which made Fang Jian click her tongue in amazement.
One day, Fang Jian returned from outside and walked into the courtyard to see Fang Zan sitting amidst various types of wood and stone, focused on carving something. Gao Yunqu was sitting to the side with her legs crossed, using a small file to shape her own fingernails. Fang Jian was curious and walked closer. "What are you doing?"
Fang Zan didn't hear her at all, completely absorbed in her own work. Gao Yunqu uncrossed her legs, brushed off the debris from her clothes, and stood up to walk into the house with her. As they walked, she said, "You really gave your sister a good name. Zan, isn't that a small chisel? These past days, I've had her try all sorts of trades, and the one that suits her best is carving. See? Isn't she sitting still now?" Gao Yunqu pointed outside.
Fang Jian followed her gesture and looked back outside. Just as she said, Fang Zan, who was previously like a little monkey who couldn't sit still, was now hugging a piece of stone, completely lost in her own world. Fang Jian sighed, "This is good. I never expected her to become an official. Having a proper craft to rely on is enough. Lord, you don't know how truly afraid I was that she would grow up to be a good-for-nothing, reckless dandy."
Gao Yunqu glanced at her. "Your sister is smarter than you think. I think she knows her limits very well." She sat down in an armchair in the study, her posture casual, and went back to filing her nails.
With the matter of Fang Zan settled, Fang Jian's eyes were only for Gao Yunqu again. She watched her and asked, "Why has Lord started doing your nails again?" Perhaps because she had been planning to resign for a long time, Gao Yunqu had become much lazier in recent years, even letting Fang Jian take the lead in bed most nights, so she hadn't been as diligent about her nails.
Gao Yunqu let out a light scoff. "I solved your problem with A'zan. How do you plan to thank me?"
Fang Jian understood the hidden meaning. She walked over and knelt before her, took the file from her hand, and continued the task for her. She looked up at Gao Yunqu with a smile. "Naturally, I will listen to whatever Lord says."
"Finished with your work?" Gao Yunqu looked down at her. Her free right hand moved to Fang Jian's earlobe, toying with it gently, causing the ear to turn red.
Fang Jian focused on the filing, her head bowed, looking exceptionally obedient. She answered in a low voice, "Mmm, the preparations were already being planned years ago. These past two days were just for reorganization. We're just waiting for the right moment."
Fingers were still kneading her ear, from the lobe to the soft cartilage. Gao Yunqu leaned back in the armchair as if nonchalant, but her hand was quietly telling of her longing. Fang Jian paused, moistened her somewhat dry lips with her tongue, and continued, "Guiyuan and I both think after the New Year would be better. What do you think, Lord?"
"Mmm, it's already the eleventh month. It's indeed not a good time to bring up any major issues. After the New Year… in the spring would be good." Gao Yunqu raised her eyes to look out the window. Fang Zan was still outside, engrossed in her work, but Gao Yunqu wasn't looking at her. Her gaze was distant, as if it could pierce through time to see the past and the future. She thought for a moment before speaking.
Fang Jian gently scraped her own fingertip across Gao Yunqu's, feeling that it was smooth and even, not catching at all, before she was satisfied and let go. She looked up at Gao Yunqu, her gaze full of affection and reliance.
She stared until Gao Yunqu's heart began to itch. She murmured, "This is very good. You and Guiyuan have thought it through… Let's have a good New Year first… after being so busy for so long…" Her voice grew lower, the distance between them closing, until she leaned down and kissed Fang Jian's lips.
Her lips were a little dry and chapped. Fang Jian licked them herself, but it was better than nothing. Gao Yunqu pressed her lips against hers, rubbing them gently, then extended the tip of her tongue to trace their shape, moistening them for her. Two pairs of lips met, two temperatures blended, and gradually, their minds became lost.
When their lips parted, both of Fang Jian's ears were red. Her eyes shimmered with a shallow spring tide, the invitation almost spilling out, but her words were shy. "Lord… A'zan is still outside…"
Gao Yunqu glanced outside and let out a soft laugh, a laugh that sent a blush spreading across Fang Jian's cheeks. Gao Yunqu pulled her to her feet and led her behind the towering bookshelves.
Gao Yunqu pushed Fang Jian against the side of a bookshelf. Her back was against the hard, cold wood, but the chill lasted only a moment. Gao Yunqu pressed against her, her warmth enveloping Fang Jian, enough to ward off the cold of the winter night.
"Lord…" This spot was hidden by the bookshelves, invisible from the outside, but it was hardly a private place.
Gao Yunqu's kiss landed on the burning tip of her ear. She lowered her voice. "Don't make a sound."
"Mmm…" Fang Jian raised her arms to embrace her, tilting her head back to receive the kisses that slid from her earlobe to behind her ear. Her voice was suppressed in her throat, occasionally tumbling out as a few muffled sounds.
It was cold in the winter, and the doors and windows were open. Gao Yunqu would not undress her here. Her hands merely tightened over the thick layers of clothing, while kisses fell one after another. Whose heart was thrown into disarray?
Gao Yunqu did not ask for too much, stopping after a mere taste. There wasn't much time, so she stopped herself promptly. But Fang Jian had been kissed until her legs went soft, and she leaned against the bookshelf, panting lightly. Gao Yunqu held her, supporting her waist to keep her from sliding down. Fang Jian's watery eyes seemed to hold hooks, utterly captivating. Gao Yunqu endured, swallowing down her desire. Her throat bobbed almost imperceptibly, a movement that, to Fang Jian's eyes, was filled with raw want. Fang Jian leaned in and kissed Gao Yunqu's throat. Gao Yunqu grunted and held her still. "Stop messing around. Now you don't care that A'zan is outside?"
"I don't want to care…" When Fang Jian got willful, she could be quite reckless.
"Alright, I'm just collecting some interest. The rest can wait until tonight…" Gao Yunqu patted her waist, soothing her.
"Sigh…" Fang Jian sighed and buried her face in Gao Yunqu's neck, closing her eyes to enjoy the rare moment of tenderness. "Annoying little thing…"
Gao Yunqu held her and laughed. Her embrace was so warm. Her neck against Fang Jian's cheek, just that small patch of skin-to-skin contact, was already immensely satisfying. They held each other for a long, long time, unafraid of the cold wind, fearless of the dark night. The road is long and arduous, but with a companion, the path will be strewn with flowers.
The End
Author's Notes
- 鏨: zan, pronounced the same as zàn (praise), means "small chisel."
- Lord's resignation was not entirely to make way for Fang Jian; she spent her entire life putting her political ideals into practice.
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